Friends of a woman washed out to sea following a night out have paid tribute to a “lovely girl”.

Vivienne and Jeff Yeates, who lived next-door to Joanna Brown in Toronto Terrace, Hanover, Brighton, recalled the 36-year-old as “a lovely girl and neighbour”.

Speaking yesterday Mrs Yeates, who had been friends with Miss Brown, known as Jo, since she moved to the area about four years ago, said: “We are very sad that Jo has been taken away by the powerful sea. She was a lovely girl and neighbour.

“We will always remember lots of times when she would lock herself out of her house and had to climb over our back garden wall to get home.

“Kind thoughts to her family. God Bless Jo.”

 


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She said Miss Brown had moved from her home in Toronto Terrace in October and let it out to a family after buying a flat in nearby Ewart Street.

Police are still investigating why Miss Brown went into the sea at 2am on December 21.

She was with a male friend when she reportedly ran into the waves.

A Sussex Police statement said: “At 8am on Saturday a member of the public discovered the body of a woman on the beach at Cuckmere Haven.

“The body has now been identified as that of Joanna Brown who had not been seen since she ran into the sea at the beach in Brighton.

“Her reason for running into the water is still not clear, but her death is not being treated as suspicious and the Brighton and Hove Coroner's officer is continuing enquiries.”